Dhaka, May 13 – The BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday vowed to take to the streets with a new political course of action over the contemporary issues including the demand for the release of BNP’s ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan stated this following a meeting of the 20-party opposition alliance at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Briefing reporters, he claimed that the unity of the 20-party alliance, where the BNP is the major partner, remains intact.
He admitted that there is some misunderstanding among the alliance partners but he expressed his optimism that they would be able to remove it through talks.
Replying to a question of desertion of Barrister Andalib Rahman’s Bangladesh Jatiya Party from the 20-party alliance, he said they are communicating with him.
“We do hope the misunderstandings among us would be ended through talks and we will work together again Insha Allah,” he said.
Nazrul, also chief coordinator of the 20-party alliance said the meeting decided the launch issue-based movement including the demand of the former premier Khaleda Zia.
He said the new course of action would concentrate on price hike of essentials, increase of rape incidents, and repression of women and depriving of farmers of the fair price of paddy.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir who was present at the meeting explained the situation in the wake of joining parliament by BNP lawmakers’ elect in violation of the party’s previous decision, meeting sources said.
He called upon the alliance leaders to keep patience and carry forward the movement to restore democracy and free Khaleda from the prison.
A top alliance leader preferring anonymity said the BNP secretary general assured them that they would cover up the gaps among the alliance partners through talks.
He said the meeting decided to strengthen the movement of 20-party alliance demanding the release of Khaleda who is serving 17-years in two graft cases and on social issues.
Leaders of alliance partners took part in the meeting began at 5:00 pm and ended followed by iftar. This was the third meeting of the 20-party alliance after the December 30 parliamentary elections.
Alliance leaders alleged that they are undermined after the formation of the Jatiya Oikyafront in October last year just ahead of the elections.
Some of the leaders also suggested the BNP leave the electoral alliance Oikyafront as they said it failed to deal with the last general elections that they said was engineered.
The leaders also strongly criticized the BNP for its U-turn from its earlier stance of not joining parliament without consulting them.
BJP chairman Barrister Andalib Rahman Partha, who left the alliance last week, was absent from the meeting. – Staff Reporter
